Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy caused outcry when he accused certain managers of being responsible for a spate of bad tackles this season by sending out teams who were too pumped up.

In particular, Murphy was critical of Sam Allardyce at Blackburn, Stoke’s Tony Pulis and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy during an attack in which he said some players had ‘no brain’ for jumping into challenges.

On Thursday Allardyce hit back at Murphy and a number of other managers joined in the controversy which has cast a shadow over the game.

If Murphy is a man he'll apologise

Sam Allardyce hit back at Danny Murphy on Thursday and strongly defended his team’s tactics, saying: ‘People like Danny Murphy are giving a perception that’s not true and I hate perception.

‘The players are very angry. Was it “brainless” or “mindless” he said? An outrageous statement to make. They are very angry about that.

‘We don’t want any backlash from those suggestions, from peoples’ perception that we are a dirty side.

‘Apologise? If he’s man enough, that’s what he should do.

‘Yes, we are physical when we need to be but we don’t play dirty and we never have done.

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‘When somebody throws an allegation at you like that you have to defend it. I have had the best disciplinary record here for five years and have reduced the bookings ratio to around 1.5 per game from just over two.

Our sending off ratio is very, very good. In the whole of this calendar year we have only had one player sent off.

‘We are not going out to try and injure players and we take great exception to anybody who suggests that.

‘We are not dirty and we never go out to injure a player, we are too professional.’

No player aims to hurt another

Some managers, including Birmingham’s Alex McLeish, fear that a clampdown on tackling will damage the game.

He said: ‘We are in danger of taking tackling out of the game completely.

‘I know there have been a lot of stray tackles about over the last few weeks and it has been a big talking point. And I also know that UEFA and FIFA are more criticial about the English game than any other league in the world.

‘We have to be careful in certain situations. But I do believe that the players are taking heed. But there will still be the odd occasion when players collide. It’s inevitable.

‘However, I still don’t believe that any player goes out to harm another.’

Take heed: Alex McLeish believes players are becoming more aware after a series of high profile injuries

We have to cut out reckless tackles

Owen Coyle joined Sam Allardyce in criticisng Danny Murphy for pointing the finger at particular clubs and managers.

The Bolton boss said: ‘Danny Murphy is a terrifically talented player and, in time, if Danny decides to dip his toe in the water in terms of coaching and management, I think, if you speak to him, he might have a different perspective or angle on this.

‘Not having had that experience of being a manager, I think it is a difficult one for him to call.

‘I might be wrong but I’d imagine he’ll probably regret some of it. To mention any club or individual was very wrong because you look at all the clubs involved and the managers they have - these people are fantastic at what they do.

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'What we do have to do as a collective body is try to eradicate the tackles that are made outside the laws of the game.

‘You will have mistimed tackles because of the frenetic nature of the Premier League, but there is a difference between a mistimed tackle and a reckless challenge.’

There is an art to a good tackle

Chris Hughton believes that poor tackling is punished more severely these days.

The Newcastle manager said: ‘It’s been highlighted in recent weeks because of the severity of some of the injuries. Unfortunately in games there will be bad tackles that will put players out for a while.

'Tackling is very much an art, players aren’t able to get away with what they were a few years ago and that’s one aspect of the game that’s very much changed.

‘I don’t think anything’s changed from when I played — you send your team out with the right tactics to win and you want players to play with enthusiasm and endeavour.’

P.S. De Jong's tackle was just clumsy

The tackle by Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong on Hatem Ben Arfa broke the Newcastle United player’s left leg in two places in their recent Barclays Premier League match.

Storm: Nigel de Jong's lunge on Hatem Ben Arfa reignited the debate on the art of tackling

De Jong was severely criticised for his lunge, even though referee Martin Atkinson took no action at the time. City teammate Kolo Toure yesterday spoke out for De Jong, claiming the challenge was ‘clumsy’.

Toure added: ‘It wasn’t a malicious tackle. He is not a violent person. He is focused on his football, he works hard on his physique and looks like a pitbull but he isn’t a bad guy.

‘His tackle was more clumsy than anything else. He is really upset for Ben Arfa. But these things can happen to anyone — just like Aaron Ramsey at Stoke last year.

‘He regrets it and is struggling to deal with what has happened. And then he was left out the Holland squad, too. It’s been very hard on him.

‘Everyone is very full-on when they play here. It’s what they call the passion of English football.

‘Once again De Jong has ended up on the wrong side of it. He didn’t mean to hurt him.’